Toronto war memorial defaced after Remembrance Day ceremonies

Shortly after services concluded, someone wrote "Canada will burn praise Allah" on the Victory Peace war memorial located in Toronto's Coronation Park.

Victory Peace memorial, Coronation Park, Toronto

City of Toronto

The vandalism was spotted by a passer-by walking thorough the park last evening. Yesterday, Remembrance Day ceremonies took place at the memorial located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto's west end. The passer-by called police and city workers were called out to fix the damage.

CityNews reports workers said the message was written with a permanent marker. The ink in the marker was such that it was absorbed into the monument's granite. It may take a couple of days to completely erase the wish that Canada burn.

Gord Pierce, the treasurer of Royal Canadian Legion #11, was quoted by CTV News as saying, "I think it's sick. Most of the people have died. This is what memorials are there for." Pierce also said the memorial recognizes the victory in World War II, the result of which is Toronto is a city where many languages are spoken.

On Oct. 31, Bill C-217 passed third and final reading in the House of Commons after the third party Liberals joined with the governing Conservatives to vote for the legislation. The bill was introduced on June 15, 2011 as a private member's bill by Tory MP David Tilson.

The bill amends the Criminal Code to make mischief committed in relation to any building, structure or cemetery that honours persons who were killed or died as a consequence of war, a specific criminal offence.

Mischief to war memorials provides for a minimum fine of $1,000 fine for a first offence and a minimum punishment of 14 days in jail for a second conviction. The minimum punishment for a third or subsequent offence is 30 days in jail.

As the bill is not yet law it will not apply to the person or persons who damaged the Victory Peace memorial in Coronation Park.

Police currently have no suspects. The Toronto Police Service is asking members of the public who have any information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.